Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Toyota Sienna submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 36 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 36, in the owner's own words
THE CABLE TO MY DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR SNAPPED, THUS THE DOOR CAN NO LONGER BE OPENED AUTOMATICALLY. THIS DEFECT IS UNDER A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR MODEL YEARS 2004-2007, BUT I HAVE A 2009 MODEL YEAR.
1999 TOYOTA SIENNA. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT OF FAULTY TIRE CARRIER REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN EARLY 2006, HE NOTICED THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER WAS INOPERABLE, AND APPARENTLY, IT HAD RUSTED IN PLACE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE REPAIR STATION, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE CORRODED SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF $300. SOMETIME LATER, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL, REGARDING THE PROBLEM HE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED. THE CONSUMER THEN SUBMITTED THE PAPERWORK FOR REIMBURSEMENT. HOWEVER, TOYOTA DENIED THE REQUEST, BASED ON THE FACT, THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE WORK PERFORMED AT AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SHOWING COMPLETION OF SSC A9E. THE CONSUMER THEN WENT TO AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED. TOYOTA DENIED THE REIMBURSEMENT AGAIN, IN A LETTER WHICH STATED THE REPAIR THAT WAS PERFORMED DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN SSC A9E. UPDATED 02/06/13.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BUMPER FAILED. THE BUMPER WAS MADE WITH DEFECTIVE MATERIAL THAT CAUSED THE BUMPER TO CRACK AND DENT EASILY WHEN STRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
REAR DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN HAND. POWER SLIDING DOOR MOTOR FAILED. POWER SLIDING DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN HAND. *TR
DRIVER-SIDE SLIDING DOOR AND THE REAR DOOR ON 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE BOTH WENT OUT OF CONTROL AT THE SAME TIME. BOTH DOORS ARE LOCKED AND DO NOT RESPOND TO REPEATED EFFORTS TO OPEN THEM, BY KEY OR MANUALLY. THE LOCK HANDLE ON THE REAR DOOR IS PERMANENTLY DEPRESSED, I.E., NO LONGER PRESSABLE, NO LONGER ACTING LIKE A MOVABLE PART. *TR
I HAVE OWNED MY 1999 SIENNA FOR 5 YEARS. TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY REAR HATCH DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED. 3 YEARS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. NOW, EVERY DOOR HANDLE ON THE VAN IS BROKE. THE SLIDER DOORS STICK CAUSING YOU TO HAVE TO PULL HARD ON THE DOORS TO OPEN. (AND THEY WERE NOT STICKY FROM SODA) LAST MONTH BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR HANDLES BROKE. THE DESIGN OF THE HANDLES ARE POOR IN THAT THE WEIGHT IS NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED WHY PULLING THE HANDLE. IT ALL ON ONE SIDE AND THE WEAKER SIDE SNAPS. THE REAR IS A CHEAP PLASTIC THAT SNAPS FOR NO REASON. IF YOU GO ON THE WEB THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE REAR HATCH AND THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLES BREAKING. *TR
TOYOTA SIENNA 1999 THE POWER SLIDING DOOR GIVING A PROBLEM FROM LAST THREE YEARS AND NOW COMPLETELY JAM, NEITHER OPEN NOR CLOSES. THE OTHER SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS VERY POOR QUALITY AND BROKE TWICE NOW. *TR
CABLE ON PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR OF 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN SNAPPED AND NOW THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. *TR
PASSENGER POWER SLIDING DOOR FAILED. *TR
REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE LEAVING ONE UNABLE TO OPEN REAR DOOR. *TR
THE REAR DOOR OF OUR 1999 SIENNA VAN HAS ALREADY BROKEN TWICE SINCE WE PURCHASED IT 5 YEARS AGO. I REPLACED IT ONCE, BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO AGAIN. AS A RESULT, I CANNOT GET TO THE BACK WHICH ALSO PREVENTS ME FROM GETTING TO MY SPARE TIRE SHOULD I NEED IT. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BACK HANDLE BROKE A YEAR AGO A WEEK LATER A SLIDING DOOR HANDLE. NOW, THREE DAYS AGO, ANOTHER SLIDING DOOR HAS BROKEN. I HAVE NO MONEY TO REPLACE THIS HANDLES AND IT WILL RUN ABOUT 1,000 TO FIX ALL THREE. FURTHER, THE SLIDING DOOR PANELS KEEP LIFTING AND I HAVE TRIED REPLACING THE PEGS WITH NO LUCK. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT HAS HAD NO MANY ISSUE WITH DOOR HANDLES. THEY SHOULD LAST THE LIFE TIME OF THE CAR. I SEE THROUGHOUT THE WEB OTHERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I CALL FOR USED PARTS, THEY ARE BACKED ORDERED BECAUSE THERE ARE NO MANY REQUEST FOR THEM. ESPECIALLY THE BACK DOOR ONE. I REALLY BELIEVE THEY ARE DEFECTIVE AND WERE NOT MADE TO WITH STAND OPEN AND CLOSING ON A DAILY BASES. I THINK THEY MADE THEM THINKING THEY WOULD BE ON DOORS THAT AUTOMATICALLY RELEASED AND OPENED VERSUS MANUAL DOORS. *TR
I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO MY 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE. WE HAVE HAD (AND LOVED) THIS CAR FOR ALL OF IT 134,000 MILES, BUT RECENTLY THE POWER SLIDING DOOR (ON THE PASSENGER SIDE) STOPPED WORKING. USING BRUTE FORCE, AN ADULT CAN MANUALLY PULL THE DOOR OPEN AND SHUT, BUT A CHILD CANNOT. MY LOCAL TOYOTA ADMITS THAT THIS IS A "DESIGN ISSUE" AND THAT HE'S SEEN "DOZENS" OF SUCH CASES, BUT THAT HAS NO BEARING ON THE FACT THAT IT COSTS UPWARDS OF $1600 TO MAKE THE FIX. THIS HARDLY SEEMS FAIR, REASONABLE OR SAFE. I'M SURE TOYOTA WILL SPRING INTO ACTION ONCE A VAN WITH A SLIDING DOOR IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE A CHILD IS TRAPPED AND HURT, BUT IT'S TOO BAD THAT IT WILL HAVE TO COME TO THAT FOR THEM TO DO WHAT'S CLEARLY RIGHT. THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE FURTHER -- A RECALL OF SOME KIND IS CLEARLY WARRANTED. *TR
SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY 1999, THE REAR HATCH HANDLE IS BROKEN TWICE AND THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS ALSO BROKEN. WE I CALL FOR PARTS I FIND OUT THAT THE REAR IS ON BACK ORDER DUE TO IT BEING SUCH IN DEMAND FOR REPLACEMENT. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT ANOTHER SIENNA OWNER WAS CALLING FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLE. ITS SEEMS THESE HANDLES ARE MADE VERY POOR AND DO NOT WITHSTAND THE PULL ACTION REQUIRED TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR. ON THE REAR, THERE IS A TINY PIECE THAT CONSTANTLY BREAKS OFF CAUSING THE HANDLE TO BE REPLACED. *TR
I TRIED TO OPEN THE REAR EXTERIOR DOOR IN THE BACK AND THE HANDLE MADE A SNAPPING SOUND AND IS NOW STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND NOW THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN ON THE OUTSIDE AND I DON'T SEE A WAY TO OPEN IT ON THE INSIDE. I PURCHASED THE VAN TO TRANSPORT MY GRANDKIDS. NOW I'M FEARFUL TO TAKE THEM ANYWHERE IN IT NOW FOR THEIR SAFETY REASONS. JUST IN CASE I HAVE TO GET IN THAT WAY FOR AN EMERGENCY. *TR
ON BACK DOOR OF MINIVAN, THE OUTSIDE HANDLE BROKE WHEN WE SQUEEZED IT TO OPEN. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. WHY IS THERE NO RELEASE FROM THE INSIDE? THE QUOTE TO FIX IS $275-300. ALSO, ON THE REAR SLIDING DOOR (DRIVER SIDE, NOT AN AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR), THE PUSH-BUTTON LATCH "STICKS" SO THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSING; WE HAVE TO PRY THE PUSH-BUTTON OUT WITH A KEY OR SCREW DRIVER SO THE DOOR WILL LATCH. *JB
THIS COMPLIANT IS REGARDING TWO SPECIFIC SAFETY ISSUES WITH A 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA VEHICLE. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS BROKEN. (3 HANDLES SO FAR) THERE IS NO RELEASE MECHANISM FROM THE INSIDE, SO THERE IS NO WAY TO GET OUT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF FIRE OR ACCIDENT DISABLING THE SIDE DOORS. THE PART IN QUESTION IS POORLY DESIGNED AND IS MADE OF PLASTIC. THE PLASTIC HANDLE IS UNDER SPRING TENSION AND ACCUATES A METAL PART TO RELEASE THE DOOR LATCH. THE PLASTIC IS TOO WEAK TO PUSH AGAINST THE METAL PART IN NORMAL USE. THE HANDLE SHOULD ALSO BE MADE OF METAL TO CURE THIS DEFECT. THE LATEST AND SECOND SAFETY DEFECT INVOLVES THE REAR REMOVABLE POD SEATS. THE SEAT TODAY WILL NOT LOCK IN THE NORMAL SEATED POSITION. AN OCCUPANT CAN PULL THE SEAT UP AND OUT OF THE TRACK IF THEY LEAN FORWARD ENOUGH. I WOULD ASSUME IN AN ACCIDENT THE ENTIRE SEAT WOULD FLY FORWARD AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *NM
UPPER DOOR MOUNT PILLAR CRACKED DUE TO OVEREXTENSION HINGE GUARD FAILURE. *AK
PASSENGER SIDE POWER DOOR STARTED OPENING AND SHUTTING BY ITSELF AFTER OPENING TO ALLOW CHILDREN TO ENTER VEHICLE. THE DOOR ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE AND DID NOT STOP, EVEN WHEN ENCOUNTERING THE BODY OF MY CHILD. FORTUNATELY HE WAS OUR OLDEST CHILD AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY ENOUGH TO ONLY BE BRUISED ON HIS SIDES. TURNED POWER OFF TO DOOR AND TRIED TO DETERMINE CAUSE. OPENED DOOR MANUALLY AND CLOSED AGAIN - DOOR WOULD NOT REOPEN MANUALLY, EVEN WITH SUBSTANTIAL FORCE. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" AND WANTS $1200 TO REPAIR DAMAGE TO DOOR HINGE AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY.
THE SLIDING ELECTRONIC DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED. WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED, IT WOULD REOPEN ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXAMINED TWICE BY THE DEALER. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE ELECTRICAL DRIVE IN THE DOOR SHOULD BE REPLACED. *AK THE DOOR COULD BE OPENED AND CLOSED MANUALLY, BUT WITH DIFFICULTY. *SC *JB
DRIVER'S DOOR WAS OPENED AND A GUST OF WIND GRABBED THE DOOR AND SNATCHED IT OFF THE HINGES. THE PINS POPPED OUT, AND THE DOOR COULD NOT BE CLOSED. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE DOOR HINGES WERE NOT A PART OF THE WARRANTY. *AK
BOTH THE SLIDING DOORS HAD BEEN RATTLING SINCE I BOUGHT THE VAN. THE DEALER SAID THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLES WITH COMPLETE ASSEMBLY, WHICH I DO NOT PLAN TO SPEND MY MONEY FOR. I BELIEVE IT IS MFR'S RESPONSIBILTY TO FIX THEM. ALSO I HAD REPLACED THE REAR DOOR LATCH THAT IS APPARENTLY MADE OF VERY CHEAP PLASTIC AND HAD BROKE OFF. ALL THE FRONT DASH VENTS FIRST CRACKED AND BROKE OFF WITHIN THE SECOND YEAR, NONE OF WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
THIS HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRUATING BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD USE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FOR ABOUT A THIRD OF THE TIME WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, AND I CAN NOT GET ANYONE AT TOYOTA TO TAKE THIS DEFECT SERIOUSLY. I WOULD RATHER NOT WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE TWICE BECAUSE THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLES WILL LOCK UP AND THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
ELECTRIC SLIDING SIDE DOOR FAILS TO CONSISTANTLY CLOSE CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT WON'T LOCK AND HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR DRIVER TO DRIVE WHILE THE DOOR IS OPEN AS IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANUALLY CLOSE THE ELECTRONIC SIDE DOOR. DEFECT REPORTED TO DEALER 3 OCCASIONS UNDER 36K WARRENTY AND WERE UNABLE TO MAKE PERMANENT REPAIR. 9.10.02 SERVICE VISIT REPLACED DOOR LATCH ($300) AND RETIMED DOOR. INTERMITTANT DOOR FAILURE REDUCED AFTER SERVICE VISIT BUT NOT ELIMINATED. DEALER ADMITS MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THIS DOOR AND THAT THE DOOR REQUIRES SERVICING (TIMING)THAT IS NOT LISTED ON MANUFACTURERS OWNERS MANUAL. NEIGHBOR ALSO HAS SAME MODEL VAN WITH EXACT SAME FAILURE EXPERIENCES. MR
ELECTRIC SLIDING DOOR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT FULLY CLOSE AND LATCH.*AKJLG
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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